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Father of Trayvon Martin cries in courtroom; George Zimmerman shows no emotion

Did Zimmerman commit 2nd degree murder when he killed Martin? Or was it self-defense?

62% in a CNN poll say the charges against Zimmerman are "probably" or "definitely" true

A prosecuting attorney greeted the jury in the George Zimmerman trial Monday with a quote full of expletives, while his adversary decided it was appropriate to tell jurors a knock-knock joke.

And that was just the beginning of opening statements in Zimmerman's long-anticipated murder trial.

In a case that has ignited national debate about gun laws and race relations, Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, is accused of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012 in Sanford, Florida.

Prosecutor John Guy's first words to the six-woman jury may have raised a few eyebrows.

"Good morning. 'F*****g punks, these a******s all get away,'" Guy quoted Zimmerman. "These were the words in this grown man's mouth as he followed this boy that he didn't know. Those were his words, not mine."

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Zimmerman, Guy said, "got out of his car with a pistol and two flashlights to follow Trayvon Benjamin Martin, who was walking home from a 7-Eleven, armed" with a fruit drink and a bag of candy. Eventually the two became entangled on the ground in a fight. A witness has said Martin was on top of Zimmerman, Guy said.

"The defendant claims that while Trayvon Martin was on top of him, he said, 'you are going to die tonight,'" said Guy. "Nobody heard that."

Guy told jurors that no witnesses saw what happened the night of the shooting from beginning to end. Witnesses only saw "slices" of what happened, he said.

"We are confident that at the end of this trial you will know in your head, in your heart, in your stomach that George Zimmerman did not shoot Trayvon Martin because he had to," Guy said. "He shot him for the worst of all reasons, because he wanted to."

In the first day of testimony, jurors heard witnesses recount Martin's trip to the convenience store, Zimmerman's call complaining about a suspicious person walking through his neighborhood before Martin's killing, and a call from the previous August, in which Zimmerman reported an alleged burglary to police.

Proceedings ended for the day when defense attorney Mark O'Mara objected to the earlier call, which prosecutors argued was necessary to explain Zimmerman's remark about burglars who "get away."

Tracy Martin is a potential witness, and potential witnesses can be forced to sit outside of the courtroom to keep their testimony from being tainted by other witnesses. But the next-of-kin of victims are allowed to remain in court even if they're expected to testify.

O'Mara also accused Tracy Martin of using an obscenity toward a friend of Zimmerman's while holding the door for him during a hearing two weeks ago. The friend, Timothy Tucholski, testified that he hadn't wanted to make an issue of it before.

"I wasn't planning on coming up here. I don't want to be sitting here," he said.

Photos: Trayvon Martin evidence 10 photos

Photos: Trayvon Martin evidence10 photos

Trayvon Martin evidence – A photo posted online Monday, December 3, shows George Zimmerman with blood on his nose and lips. His attorneys say it was taken the night unarmed teen Trayvon Martin was killed in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman, 28, faces second-degree murder charges in the death of Martin in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. Other evidence photos were released earlier this year:

Trayvon Martin evidence – Zimmerman said that before he shot the teenager, he was "assaulted (by Martin) and his head was struck on the pavement," according to a police report.

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Photos: Trayvon Martin evidence10 photos

Trayvon Martin evidence – According to a fire department report, Zimmerman had "abrasions to his forehead," "bleeding/tenderness to his nose" and a "small laceration to the back of his head" when he was treated at the scene.

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Photos: Trayvon Martin evidence10 photos

Trayvon Martin evidence – In a photo released by the Sanford Police Department, Zimmerman's hands appear to be unmarked.

Trayvon Martin evidence – A can of Arizona iced tea was found on the ground at the Martin crime scene.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing 11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – Memorials to Trayvon Martin grow daily outside The Retreat at Twin Lakes, the gated Sanford, Florida, community where neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman shot and killed the unarmed teen February 26. The death has sparked protests across the country and brought unwanted attention to Sanford, a town north of Orlando.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – Sanford's main roads are dotted with mini strip malls in between patches of what remains of central Florida's agricultural history. Views about the Martin case depend on which streets you stand on in Sanford.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – "I don't see Sanford as being a prejudiced town by any means," said Michelle Simoneaux, left, manager of downtown's Colonial Room Restaurant and Fountain. "This could happen anywhere, but it doesn't happen every day. "

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – A neighborhood watch sign marks the gated community where Martin died. Zimmerman has said he killed the teen in self-defense, police said.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – Members of the Goldsboro community play a game under an oak tree. Goldsboro was one of Florida's earliest towns incorporated by African-Americans before Sanford absorbed it and took over in 1911. Residents speak of frequent police patrols in the area and other cases similar to Martin's.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – A protest sign painted on the window of a car at a housing project calls for Zimmerman's arrest. For some, the Martin case has become a rallying cry, a chance to air what they believe are years of grievances.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – The Martin killing has been the subject of intense coverage in local newspapers as well as the national media.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – Longtime resident Myranette Boynton, 58, says she thinks the attention to Sanford will make a difference. "This occasion has happened too many times, and enough is enough," Boynton says from the banks of Lake Monroe. "Trayvon is not the only one, but Trayvon should be the last one."

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – A handwritten card lies among the memorial gifts outside the neighborhood where the high schooler died.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – A woman strolls through the downtown area. Many residents say they wonder whether Sanford will forever be known as the place where an unarmed black teen was killed while heading home from the store.

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Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing11 photos

Stigma for town in Trayvon Martin killing – Signs about the shooting have been posted throughout the Florida city, and the message is clear: People want answers.

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'Million Hoodie March' 9 photos

'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Supporters of Trayvon Martin rally in New York's Union Square during a "Million Hoodie March" on Wednesday, March 21. Trayvon, 17, was shot to death February 26 while walking in a gated community in Sanford, Florida. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch leader, said he shot the teen in self-defense.

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Trayvon Martin supporters block traffic as they march through Union Square on Wednesday. Many of the demonstrators wore hoodies and carried Skittles, the candy Martin left his father's fiancee' house to buy the night he was killed. Zimmerman has not been arrested. A police report describes him as a white male; his family says he is Hispanic.

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon's mother, hugs a supporter at the March. "Our son is your son," Fulton, told the crowd. "This is not about a black-and-white thing. This is about a right-and-wrong thing. Justice for Trayvon!"

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Demonstrators of all races crowded into Union Square for the Million Hoodie March.

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Hundreds of demonstrators marched in Union Square. Protests are also scheduled for Thursday in Sanford, Florida.

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Demonstrators chant at the Million Hoodie March in New York.

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – The shooting and police response in Trayvon's case is fueling outrage that has reached well beyond Sanford, a racially mixed community 16 miles northeast of Orlando.

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Protestors flood the streets and block traffic as they march on W. 14th Street.

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'Million Hoodie March'9 photos

'Million Hoodie March' – Passengers on a bus take photos of the demonstrators.

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But Nelson denied the request, and Martin remained in court -- but Zimmerman's parents were covered by the rule regarding potential witnesses and had to sit outside, as did Benjamin Crump, the lawyer for Martin's parents.

At one point, Martin's father began crying as Guy detailed how officers tried to save his son's life. Zimmerman has mostly stared straight ahead without any signs of emotion.

Following Guy's statement, defense attorney Don West came forward to woo the jury. As he began, he told a knock-knock joke. But it failed to win a laugh. "Knock knock. Who's there? George Zimmerman. George Zimmerman who? Good, you're on the jury," he said.Later, West apologized. "No more bad jokes, I promise that," he told jurors. "I was convinced it was the delivery."

West quickly got on with the business of making his case: that Zimmerman was forced to act in self-defense to save his own life.

"The evidence will show this is a sad case; no monsters here. ... George Zimmerman is not guilty of murder. He shot Trayvon Martin after he was viciously attacked."

With the help of PowerPoint visuals, West spent hours hammering home his argument.

He broke down Zimmerman's 911 call in which he first reported seeing Martin and told about following him.

"Little did George Zimmerman know at the time in less than 10 minutes from him first seeing Travyon Martin that he, George Zimmerman, would be suckered punched in the face, have his head pounded on concrete and wind up shooting and tragically killing Trayvon Martin," West told jurors.

West also deconstructed a 911 call a neighbor made, in which it is possible to hear screams and a shot in the background that West said was the sound of the fatal bullet.

As the dramatic recording audio filled the courtroom, Zimmerman showed no emotion. Martin's mother left the courtroom.

"At the moment this actually became physical was that Trayvon Martin -- I will use my words -- that Trayvon Martin decided to confront George Zimmerman," West said. "That instead of going home. He had plenty of time. This is, what, 60 or 70 yards. Plenty of time. He could've gone back and forth four or five times."

West quoted a witness named John Good who described the fight. "He called it a 'ground and pound' by Martin, who he said was on top of Zimmerman, beating him."

"He saw enough that this was serious," West said. Zimmerman cried out for help, looked at Good and said, "help me." But the beating continued while Good went inside his home to call 911, West said.

There was a shot. Shortly afterward, according to West, Zimmerman said Martin "was beating me up, and I shot him."

West also disputed the prosecution's claim that Martin was unarmed.

"Travyon Martin armed himself with the concrete sidewalk and used it to smash George Zimmerman's head," said West. "No different than if he picked up a brick or smashed his head against a wall. That is a deadly weapon."

West showed jurors photos taken of Zimmerman after the fight. "What you can really see in these pictures that you will have in evidence are the lumps," West said. "The big knots on each side of his head. Consistent with having his head slammed into concrete."

Among the first prosecution witnessed called was the 911 dispatcher who took Zimmerman's call before the shooting. Seat Noffke testified that he was trained to give general commands instead of direct orders to people.

When Zimmerman said he was following Martin, Noffke told him, "Okay we don't need you to do that." Noffke told the prosecutor he's liable for any direct orders he gives someone.

On cross-examination, defense attorney O'Mara pointed out that Noffke asked Zimmerman, "Which way is he running?"

"If you tell somebody twice to let you know if the person that they're concerned about is doing anything else -- do you think they're going to keep their eye on them?" asked O'Mara.

"I can't answer that," said Noffke.

"You did tell him twice to let you know if that guy did anything else," said O'Mara.

"Yes sir," said Noffke.

Noffke went on to say he only wanted a location of the suspect for officers and that he never told Zimmerman to follow or keep his eye on Martin.

Shortly before court got under way, Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, spoke to reporters, asking people to "pray for me and my family because I don't want any other mother to experience what I'm going through now."

Vowing to keep fighting for his son Trayvon -- even after Zimmerman was acquitted of murder -- Tracy Martin said that his family wants to turn "negative energy" surrounding their plight "into a positive."